Vanisa Dhiru // Chair
 
With a background in various business, government and community roles Vanisa brings a wealth of experience to the Trust. Her day-to-day role as CEO of Volunteering New Zealand ensures constant challenge to keep her finger on the pulse of pertinent community issues and opportunities to advance New Zealand’s wellbeing. Vanisa is particularly passionate about good governance and leadership.

Malcolm Cameron // Trustee
 
Awarded 2012 Senior New Zealander of the Year, Malcolm is a serial social entrepreneur who’s always scheming up new ideas to address needs in the community. His passion for providing positive and practical opportunities for young people was the main reason for founding the Malcam Trust, which now nearly twenty years on reaches up to 50,000 people each year through its various programmes.

Diana Davis // Treasurer
 
Diana is passionate about community, adventure camping, and sharing delicious home-cooked meals fresh from her garden on the Otago Peninsula with her extended family. Outside of her full-time Chartered Accountant role as Financial Controller for Otago Innovation Ltd, Diana volunteers her time to help out as Treasurer for Inspiring Stories – her favourite film is Carving the Future! It’s true!

Guy Ryan // Trustee & CEO
 
Guy is passionate about storytelling, creativity and innovation for a better world. An internationally award-winning filmmaker, designer and entrepreneur, Guy received a Vodafone World of Difference scholarship in 2011 to launch Inspiring Stories Trust & a series of youth-focused programmes. As CEO, Guy leads the development of Trust programmes, partnerships, core crew & volunteers.

Steve Barr // Trustee
 
Steve has always been fascinated by how storytelling can affect culture. A veteran of over 15 years in the Hollywood studio system, he moved to New Zealand in 2010. He works as a screenwriter, producer, and lecturer in the New Zealand filmmaking community, as well as volunteering his time for several charities and trusts.

Amanda Santos // Trustee
 
Amanda describes herself as a “fix it” leader. She believes organisations that need help lack good culture and revenue. Amanda is passionate about helping businesses grow and she supports many SMEs and is active in the start-up space in Wellington. Amanda is interested in enabling social enterprise and says this is her main reason for wanting to be part of Inspiring Stories.

Patrick O’Reilly // Trustee
 
Patrick has over 20 years experience in property and has been active in the New Zealand Property Institute, holding various positions, including Branch Chairman, Councillor, and being a member on the Valuation and Property Standards Board. A proud West Coaster at heart, he completed the Leadership NZ Programme in 2011 and joined the Inspiring Stories Trust Board with a strong desire to help support the aspirations of young New Zealanders.

Adrian Wimmers // Trustee
 
Adrian (Ado) is passionate about increasing engagement amongst kiwis interested in creating a prosperous future for New Zealand. He is a Corporate Finance Partner at KPMG, former public servant, Leadership New Zealand Fellow (2009) and has served on several not-for-profit (NFP) and Advisory boards, including six years with Volunteer Wellington. Adrian is particularly interested in the opportunities that exist at the interfaces between the public, private, and NFP sectors. Adrian is also a proud husband to Sonya and father to two young children – Oskar and Rosa.